Celebrating Nursing Week: In their words
By: Michelle Ramos, Team Lead, PA&C
For Nursing Week, we’re celebrating the incredible nurses across Bayshore HealthCare by sharing their stories. We asked them why they chose the profession, the moments that shaped their practice, and what inspires them every day.
Abby Nash – Fredericton, New Brunswick
What is your current role at Bayshore HealthCare?
I am currently working as a travel nurse with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) team in British Columbia and am looking to transition into Northern Nursing. I recently completed an incredible travel contract in Bella Bella, BC.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My journey into healthcare began with my own experiences as a child. I was ill and had the same hematology/oncology nurse throughout those formative years. Her kindness and compassion left a lasting impression on me and continues to inspire me today.
I chose ER nursing because of its unpredictability—I enjoy thinking quickly on my feet and adapting in the moment.
What is your most memorable patient interaction?
I’ve been a nurse for five years. One of my most memorable experiences was caring for a patient in the ER who had just been diagnosed with cancer. It was the worst day of his life, and everything ahead of him was uncertain. In that moment, I was only able to offer comfort, laughter, and a warm smile. Despite the news, he thanked me. That interaction has stayed with me.
What does Nursing Week mean to you?
Nursing Week is a time to recognize all the sacrifices, dedication, and consistency nurses bring to the healthcare system. It allows the public to honor our commitment, and for me personally, provides designated time to reflect on my practice—to acknowledge the care and compassion I provide and to reconnect with my purpose in the profession.
How will you celebrate Nursing Week?
This year, I’m approaching Nursing Week with a more reflective mindset. I want to take time to think about my growth and the impact of my work. Nursing is such a big and evolving field, and reflection helps keep me grounded. And of course…I will enjoy the treats provided by my employers!
Michelle Hundseth – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
What is your current role at Bayshore HealthCare?
I am currently a primary clinic nurse at the Saskatoon Clinic, a Saskatoon Home Pharma nurse, and provide temporary coverage for the Regina Clinic.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My nursing education offered me a passport to always allow me new challenges, experiences, and unending growth in the health care field and in my life. It allows me to “travel” in so many different specialties and areas of practice. I knew I would never be bored or stagnant. Those that know me are aware I like to keep very busy and am always keen.
What is your most memorable patient interaction?
I was a brand-new graduate nurse on a fast-paced Cardiac, Thoracic, and General Surgery ward, learning to juggle priorities, manage the unit’s demands, and support my patients without letting anyone down. One post-op patient struggled and remained in hospital for six months before finally being discharged. On discharge day, after he’d been transferred to another unit, he sought me out to thank me for our conversations about life, family, and work, and for the “trips” we’d taken together by seeing the world through each other’s eyes.
That experience has stayed with me: a reminder of the power of presence, empathy, and genuine connection. Sometimes the most meaningful care isn’t a medication or procedure—it’s finding small ways to offer a moment of comfort, understanding, or laughter.
What does Nursing Week mean to you?
Nursing Week is more than just a calendar event. It is a dedicated period of recognition, reflection, and professional solidarity. It serves as a platform to celebrate all those who are “behind the scrubs,” that have a profound impact on human life.
How will you celebrate Nursing Week?
I will be celebrating with nurses, professional colleagues, patients, and family – sharing smiles, stories, and appreciations. And within myself, a quiet reflection of the 38 years I have committed to my career and all the joy, gifts, human connections, learning and lessons it has provided me.
Olga Mugosa – Winnipeg, Manitoba
What is your current role at Bayshore HealthCare?
I am a Registered Nurse in Manitoba, currently working as a Clinic Lead Nurse at the Manitoba Bayshore Infusion Clinic.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I have been passionate about health care since I was very young. Despite early challenges, I remained determined to pursue a career in nursing. After completing my studies in 2015, I gained diverse clinical experience in cardiac care, medicine, immediate care unit (IMCU), urgent care, long-term care, and surgery. My professional journey has also been deeply shaped by personal experiences, including caring for my late husband during his illness, an experience that strengthened my compassion, resilience, and commitment as a nurse.
Today, in my role as a Clinic Lead Nurse at Bayshore, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives while also balancing my role as a mother. Nursing is not just my profession; it is my calling.
What does Nursing Week mean to you?
To me, Nursing Week is a time to recognize the strength, compassion, and resilience that define our profession. It reflects not only the care we provide, but also the dedication and purpose behind it.
How will you celebrate Nursing Week?
I celebrate Nursing Week by reflecting on my journey, appreciating how far I have come, and cherishing the privilege of continuing to care for others while being present for my family. It serves as a reminder of the strength and purpose that led me to this profession.
As a nurse, I strive to make a difference not only by promoting healing and advocating for my patients, but also by supporting families through their most difficult moments, including times of loss, by offering care, compassion, and comfort when it matters most.
Trace Hogan-Bellavance – Montreal, Quebec
What is your current role at Bayshore HealthCare?
I am currently a Community Health Nurse in Lax Kw’alaams, British Columbia.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I really was inspired by one of my close friends who was just finishing up nursing school as I needed to decide on a career path. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world, always having been a person that values helping people, even in the simplest of ways.
What is your most memorable patient accomplishment/interaction?
I can’t think of a single most-patient interaction, there are so many that I cherish. I think of the 19-year-old motor-vehicle accident (MVA)patient in ICU who didn’t make it; how their family stayed together. I also think of the woman and her baby we lost in the ER, and her husband. I think of simply giving a hug to someone in the community when they were likely facing the most trying time of their life. The human connections are what make this job memorable.
What does Nursing Week mean to you?
Nursing Week is an opportunity to highlight the hard work of nurses around the world. In that respect, the pandemic helped bring this into focus. One thing that has changed for me is how I see nursing and how I approach patient care. When I started, I wanted to change and save the world.
With time, I came to realize that the little changes are the most valuable, not the Alexander-the-Great-type ones. One thing that has been constant, and has only been reinforced each day, is the value of working as a team. None of us would be able to achieve anything, big or small, without the help of basically everyone else on Earth.
How will you celebrate Nursing Week?
I will celebrate Nursing Week by working here in Lax Kw’alaams and making the most of my time being part of the community and the land here.
Shermin Bawa – Surrey, BC
What is your current role at Bayshore?
I’m the Manager of Clinical Practice at the British Columbia Immigration Holding Center (BCIHC). I also work in the ER, so I have that acute care background as well.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I just love helping people. I think the biggest thing for me is being an advocate for people that can’t advocate for themselves.
What was your most memorable patient interaction?
Caring for a pregnant woman with COVID-19 in the emergency department, before vaccines were available, demonstrated to me why I became a nurse. Her husband couldn’t visit, so I kept him updated and supported both, reinforcing my commitment to caring for my patients.
What does Nursing Week mean to you?
For me, Nursing Week is about appreciating every small achievement. Each day, we get up and show up for work, and sometimes we’re our own toughest critics. Like any profession, we experience both ups and downs, but it’s important to recognize our efforts, celebrate those little victories, and value making a difference just by showing up each day.
How will you be celebrating Nursing Week?
I work with about 30 nurses at the Immigration Holding Center and wanted to bring treats to show my appreciation for our outstanding team. Their efforts truly make a positive impact and difference.